Machine for forming lock washers



Sept 23,-;1'931- Q's. OLSON MACHINE FOR FORMING oc'K WASHE Sheta-Shept 1 ll llllllllllllll l ti lllllllluul'llll Filed May 11 1928 Sept. 23, 1930. c; G. OLSON MACHINE FOR FORMING LOCK' WASHERS- kfi1ed May l1r'l928 6 Sheets-Sheet- 2 Sept. 23, 1930. c. a. OLSON MACHINE FOR FORMING LOCK WASHERS Filed May 11 1928 -6 Sheets-Sheet 5 j 62671 6. m/ g I I I Sept; 23, 1930.

c. G. OLSON Monika .FOR; FORMING LOCK Filed Mdy 11. 1928 e Sheets-Sheet, 4

, Cari 6f QZJozu Sept. 23, 1930. c. G. OLSON 1,776,663

n MACHINE FOR FORMING LOCK WASHERS Filed May 11 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 V jamwifi? UQJJZ 6: @65072/ Sept. 2 ,1930. 0. OLSON 1,776,663

MACHINE FOR FORMING LOCK WASHERS Filed May 11, 1928 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 3 Zam ra 07 serrated.

' In the copending applications of R T., Hosking,'Serial Nos. 240,392, 240,393 and Patented Sept. 23, 1930 PATENT OFFICE,

CARL e. OLSON, or CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, "assieivoit To SHAKEPBOOF LocKwAsnEn-oox- IPANY, O F CHICAGO, ILLENOIS, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE V acrame roryronmme Loci: wAsnERsi Application" tiled in 11,

invention relates to apparatus for pro= ducing lock washers and particularly to machines for producing lock Washers from flat stock in Whichoneof the marginsthereof is 24:0,394, filed Dec. 16, 1927, methodsof pro ducing lock washers from strips of serrated fiat stock are described and in general one of the primary objects of my invention is to provide a durable and efiiciently operable machine wherebymethods set forth in these 7 cop'endingapplications may be effectively practiced.

Flore specifically, an object of my invention is to provide an apparatus whereby flat stock formed with a serrated edge may be fed'froma supply thereof and formed into 29 coil, means being provided forsevering a single convolution of the c011 thus formed;

' Anotherob iec-t of my invention is to provide a'inachine for coiling stripmaterial and for severingqa convolution-of the coil thus formed, said machine being further adapted to straighten the helicoidal form of the severed convolution, thereby presenting a flat type washer. i V

A further object of myinvention isto pro- 7 vide an apparatus forcoiling a stool: strip which varies 1n thicknessmto helicoidal con voluti'ons of uniform circular configuration and then severing individualconvolutions of the coil to present lock Washers of desired invention further contemplates the provision; of a machine for producingjlock washers in'which a stock strip is intermittently advanced'and formed :"into a'coil, means being, provided for controlling the feeding ofthe strip so that an amount equal to the stock required for; one complete convolution' ofthe coil is advanced during each intermittent movement of the feeding means and a cutting mechanism=is provided for se'veringf a convolution upon the completion ,of each intermittent advancement of the t ip V it Inaddition to the above'mentioned characteristics,flmyz invention further contemi928. Serial in. 276,928.

platesthe provision ofa machine for making lock washers having marginal locking teeth in which a strip of serrated material is formed into a coil having more than one complete convolution and a cutting means is provided for severing one complete convolution, the remaining portion of the coil being employed to facilitate the subsequent coiling operation. v f Another object of my invention is to provide a machine for making lock washers from stock strip having marginal serrations or teeth, said device being designed to coil the serrated strip andto sever a complete conp volution of the formed coil so that theabutting marginal tooth portions thereof will be properly joined so as to present uniform continuity of the marginal serrations orteeth.

Withthe' foregoing and 'other'objects in. view, which will appear in the following description, the invention resides in the novel combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed. a

In the accompanying: drawings,

machine whichrepresents one embodiment of my invention, a portion of the ram of the press beingbroken away to disclose certain 7 parts otherwise hidden. r V

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectionalview of the apparatus taken along the line 2- 2 of Figure 1. i a v "l v, Figure; 3 is a fragmentary transverse vertical sectional view of the machinetakensubstantiallyalong the line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detailed-horizontalsectional View of the coiling and severing end of the, machine taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 1. V e I l Figure5 is a transverse, vertical sectional viewtaken along the line 55 ofjFiguresl and l. "i

Figure 6 is a similar vertical transverse sectional view taken along the line 66 of Figures land 4, certain portions of the cuttingmechanism beingshown in elevation for the purpose of clearness.

' Figure 7 is adetailed transverse vertical x15 Figure 1 is a side elevational'viewllof a sectional View similar to Figure 1 and is taken along the line 8-8 of Figures 1 and Figure 9 is an enlarged fragmentary hor1- zontal-sectional -v1ew of;certa1n portions of the cutting mechanism taken along the line- 99 of Figure 1.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detailed sectional view of the coiling die as viewed along the line 1010 of Figure 9, the strip material being removed therefrom in order to :more clearly understand-the manner in which said die is shaped.

Figurell is anen'larged elevational view of the ceiling die as shown in Figure 1, the

strip material being removed therefrom in order thata clearer understand'ing'of the die structure may be had.

Figure 12 is an enlarged sectionalview of the coiling die plunger as shown in Figure 4. V Figure 18 1sv an enlarged sectional view of the coiling die and plunger as viewed in Figure 6;

Figure 14 is an enlarged sectional view of the coiling die and plunger as viewed in Fig ure 7. y v

Figureilfi 1s an enlarged perspective view of the-forming die disclosed in Figure 11,- a

strip of, serrated material being shown at the entrance of said die, and it is to be under,-

stood that this figure discloses the interior of the, die as it would appear to an observer whose eye is positioned centrally of and in close proximity to said. die. A v

Figure 16 isa perspectiveview of certain portions of thegfeedingfand cutting mechanisms, a-stripof material being shown in association therewith anddisclosed as hav ing been advanced by the feeding'mechanism and formed into a coil, said coil beingin readiness to be acted 'upon by the cutting mechanism.

f Figure 17 discloses the cutting mechanism in the process of severingone ,ofthe convolutions of the coil and straightening said coil so as to presentva fiat lock washer, the feeding mechanism being moved rearwardl-y out of engagement with they serrated strip.

Figure 18 discloses the feeding mechanism in position to advance the strip,,the position of the strip covering member being clearly shown to indicate how said covering member serves to prevent the buckling of the serrated strip during the advancement or feedingthereof, and

Figure 19. is a detailed "perspectiveview ofa locl washerlwhich is representative of the type capable of being produced by'a machine constructed in accordance withthe teachings of myinvention.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like numerals have been employed to designate similar parts throughout the various figures, it will be observed that a machine embodying features of my invention comprises a machine frame 10, Figures 1 and 2, and horizontally slidable within the frame is a feeding bar 12. The upper edge of the feeding bar 12 is provided with rack teeth 14 which are designed to mesh withcompanion teeth of a quadrant 16 keyed to a shaft 18. This shaft '18 is rotatably mounted within a suitable bearing 20 and is secured to one eXtremityof an actuating arm 22, the other end of said arm being secured to the lower extremity of the actuating rod or shaft 24.

This shaft 24 is connected at its upper eX- "tremity'to one of the moving parts (not shown) }of a punch press so that during each complete cycle of operation of said press the shaft 24 will experience one complete reciprocation. From the foregoing it will be 'clearthat during each vertical reciprocation of the shaft 24 the feed bar 12 which supports a feed block 26 at its forward end, will experience one complete horizontal reciprocation} v This feed block 26 is mounted upon the feed bar 12 by'means of suitable pins 28, Figures 16 to 18 inclusive, which extend through angularly disposed slots 30 provided in said block, The lower edge of the block 26 is formed with rack teeth 32 which are designed for engagement with teeth or prongs 34 of similar design formed along the margin of a strip of metallic stock 36. This stock 36 may be fed into the machine from the left end thereof, Figures 1 and 2, a groove or opening 38, Figure 3, being provided in the machine frame i10 "to, accommodate said stock. To 'provide an outer guide for the body portion 40 of thestock 36, I mount a guide plate 42, Figure 1, to the side of the machine frame by means of suitable screws 44. In order to clearly understand the operation of the feed 3 7 block 26, assume that the feed bar 12 has been carried to its retracted or rearmost position to the left of Figures 1 and 2, and that the upper extremity of'the slots 30 and the teeth 82- of'the feed block will be engaged with the teeth 34 of the strip 36. As the feed bar 12 begins to advance in response to the actuation of the shaft 24, the strip 36 which is guided by means of the plate 42 is advanced toward acoilingdie which I have indicated generally by the numeral 46, Figures 1 and 11to 15 inclusive, laterto be described. I

When the guideblack 26 is moved to the limit of its forward stroke as shown in Figure 16, a recess 48 formed at one end of the block 26 will receive the inner end of a locking pin 50, Figures 1, 2 and 4. This'locking pin 50 extends througha sideplate 52 which serves as a lateral guide for thebloclr26and is carried atthe extremityof a leaf spring 54 which is secured by means of a. screw 56, to the plate 52; As "the rearward movement of the feed bar 12 begins, this pin 50 serves to yield ingly preventthe movement of the feed bar 26 until the pins 28 have been carried to the lower extremities of the slots 30. This "movement of the pins 28 within the slotscauses the teeth 32 of the block to be disengaged from the teeth in the strip 36 and as the rearwardmovement of the bar is continued the pin 50 will be disengaged'soas to permit theifree rearward movement ofthe block 26. When the block 26 is carried to the end of its rearward stroke, the pin w-illithen be received by a slot or recess58 which is similar to the recess i8 just described. It will thus be apparent that when the' bar again starts on its forward movement, the pin 50 will serve to prevent the advancement of the block 26 until the teeth thereof have been carried intoengagement withthe companion teeth within the strip 36,

as shown in Figure 18. In order to prevent the bulging of the portion of the stock which extends between the feed block 26 and the coiling die 46 during the advancement of said stock, I provide a covering plate 60, Figures 16 to 18', inclusive, which is' horizontally slidable transversely of the feed block and is normally urged outwardly through the agency of a suitable coilspring 62. Thus, as the feed bar moves rearwardly, this coil spring 62 will cause the plate to be moved outwardly intocovering-relation with respect to'the upper surfacesofthe teeth 3e. As the feed block is advanced, the forward edge thereof engagesfthe angular frontedgeof the plate" 60, thereby causing said plate to uncover the stock o strip 36 in accordance with the advancemovementofthefeedingblock. From the foregoing it will be clear thattheactuation of the block 26 serves to intermittently advance the stock strip 36 into association with the coiling die 46.

1 The structural characteristics ofthis coiling die 46 will be best understood by referring to Figures 10 to 15 inclusive wherein theinternal structure of said die 18. shownin detail. In an endeavor to clearly set forth the to the other corresponding figures, it will be seen that the stock strip 3 6enters the die 46 at the opening which I have indicated bythe numeral 64, this openin 64: nninga part of a continuous helicoidal groqv or path formed W hin said die. In ordertounder stand the action of the die upon the strip 36,

aces;

This cutting mechanism 70 alsoincludes an arbor or mandrel 7 2 which extends into and is positioned centrally of the die 6 and which cooperates'withthe helicoidal path oftheidie during the coiling operation. After crossing I the path of theshearing bar 68, the advancing V is directed into association with a portion end of the strip 36 is coiled downwardly and of the helicoidal path indicatedby' the nuinerai 74. It will be observed that at this one complete convolution and asthe advancement of the" strip is continueduntilthe eX-" tremity thereof reaches a point '7 6, said strip will have been formed into'one and one-half convolutions. The extent of movementiof the-feed bar 26 is so arranged-that a length of strip materialwhich is suflicient to form one complete convolution Within the die 46 is advanced during each forward stroke of the bar 26, In other words, during each forwar'd stroke of tlie fee'd bar 12 a point on the stock strip starting from the position indicated. by the numeral 66 will pass the positiorr'or point '74 and will finally come to rest ttil'tl'lG point 76 withinthe helicoidal path of the die.

a When the advanced extremity of the strip 36*.l8 positioned atthe point 76in the mannerijust'describcd, a forward movement will be experienced by the shearing bar 68 which point 74 the strip will have been coiled into will carry the cutting edge thereof into en gagen ent with the strip within the die at the is suitably mounted in ahoriz'ontal fixed" position as clearly shownin Figs. 9 and 16 Y to 18 inclusive. This fixed shearing bar 78 forms HrnPflIt Of the: coilingdie46 and is so positioned that when one and one-half convolutions have been formed as hereinbefore described, said bar will occupy a position intermediate said convolutions, as clearly shown in Figure 16. As the shearing bar 68 engages the stock strip, the fixed bar78 cooperates therewith to facilitate the shearing of the strip at the point 66 and as the forward movement of the shearing bai- 68 is continued the severed portion of the convoiution is earriedacross the faceof the fixed shearing, bar 78 andalso across the butt end ofthe strip positioned at the point 7 6 within the helicoidal'path Ores" coiling are; i i

= retracted, a fiat washer is presented.

By flexingv the severed portion of the convolution in this manner I am able to spring the material comprising the convolution sufficiently so that when the shearing bar 68 is In other words, the helicoidal form to which the strip material is subjected Within the die is straightened so that all parts of the body portion 40 will lie in the same plane.

Referring now to the cutting mechanism 70 more in detail, it will be observed that the arbor 72carries a key or pilot and this key is adapted to enter one of the slots between the teeth 34 of the strip 36 when said arbor and the cutting bar 68 supported thereby are moved forwardly. Inthis manner the proper positioning of the coil within the die is insured, thereby effecting the severing of the strip along a line which bisects the space between theteeth 84. The arbor 7 2is formed integral with a block portion 82, Figure 6, and threaded within one extremity of this block is a pin 84 which carries a coil spring 86. This coil spring 86 is interposed be tween the side of the machine frame and the head of the pin 84 thereby constantly urging the block 82 to the right, Figure 6. The block 82 is mounted within a sleeve 88 which is longitudinally slidable within a transverse way 90 and reciprocation is imparted to the sleeve 88 through the agency of a vertically .slidable member 92, Figures 1, 2 and 8. This member 92 is provided with an angular keyway 94, Figure 8, which isadapted to slidably receive a companion angularly related key 96, Figure 7 provided upon the sleeve 88. The upper end of the member 92 supports a threaded connecting rod 98, Figure 1, which passes through a collar secured to the ram 102 of the punch press and when reciprocation is imparted to the member 92 in response to the actuation of theram 102, it will be apparent that horizontal reciprocation will be imparted to the sleeve 88. It will be observed that the upper and lower portions of the effective strokes of the ram 102 are employed to actuate the member 92.

Assume that the sleeve 88 occupies the position shown in Figure 6 and that the member 92 is about'to experience a downward This will obviously'result in a. forward. movement of the sleeve 88 and when movement.

mentwith a stop screw 108,'thereby causing the pawl to be urged upwardly against thespring 106 and out of'engag'ement with the block 82. At this point thecoil spring86.

causes the sudden retraction of the block 82 and consequently the arbor 72, and as the member 92 is moved upwardly again in response to the upward movement of the press ram 102, the slide 88 will be movedto the right, Figure 6, andthepawl 104 will again be carried into engagement with the block 82 in readiness for another forward stroke. The quick return of the arbor 72 enables the feed block 26 to advance a subsequent portion of the strip 36 into the coiling die in the manner hereinbefore described.

In the operation of the apparatus just described, the strip material 36 may be fed from a coiled supply thereof (not shown) and di-. rected'into proper association with the feed block 26. In-responseto thevertical reciprocation. of the shaft 24 the stock 36 will be intermittently advanced into association with the die 46 in response to the horizontal reciprocationimparted to the feed block. As already described, this die 46 is adapted to form the stock into a coilhaving one" and one-halfconvolutions and immediately following the coiling of said strip, the shearing bar 68 and the arbor 72 are advanced. The bar, 68 is moved-forwardly an amount which is sutli .cient not only to cut the metal strip .but'also to straighten it and in order to-straighten the washer it is necessary to bend the free ends past each other an amount equal to the spring in the material so-that whenthe/ washer is released and the elasticity of the metal is normalized it becomes a flat ring. As the shear bar 68 reaches its forward limit, the pawl 104 is released and the coil spring 86 operates to quickly retract the shear bar and the arbor-so as to permit the introduction of a subsequent portion of the strip into the die 46 lVhen the convolution has been severed and straightened in the mannerdescribed, it will fall from the die by reason of its own weight into a suitable receptacle (not shown) provided therefor. In order to positively -retain the severed convolution in position within the die until the straightening operation has been completed, I provide a pin, 110 which is supported by a lever 112 which is adapted to cause the pin 110 to yieldingly engage the portion of the strip positioned at the point 76 of the die. Immediately subsequent to the straightening operation, the pin 110 is moved tothe left, Figure 14, out of en gagement with the washer so as to release the completed washer from the die. The lever 112 which carries the pin 110 is hinged at 114 and is operated through the agency of a cam 116 carried by the feed bar 12, Figures 1 and 2. Immediately subsequent to the completion of the coiling operation, the cam 116 engages the free end of the lever 112 so as to carry the pin 110 which is resiliently mounted by means of a suitable coil spring 118 into engagement with the coiledstrip at the point 76. The pin 110 thus serves as a means f r positively securing the convolution in. proper position during the severing and straighteir ing operation. It wlll also be observed that the teeth 34 of the strip material are twisted out of the plane of the body portion 40 therclit of as clearly shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 13 and thus my improved apparatus is adapted to coil stock strip into helicoidal convolutions of a uniform circular configuration, even though the sections of the stock vary in width when the twisted arrangement of the prong is considered. particular type of apparatus which I have described is designed to produce washers having butt joints, it will be readily understood that washers might be producedwhich have other types of j ointswithout departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

From the foregoing it will be understood that my invention contemplates the, provision of an apparatus for forming lock Washers.

which is simple in construction and very eiiicient in operation. By use of my improved device the speed with which lock washers of the prong type may be produced has been greatly accelerated and the type of washers which it is capable of producing meet all the necessary requirements as to uniformity of construction.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a machine for forming lock washers,

means for coiling a strip of material formedv with spaced marginal prongs, intermittently.

operable feeding means adapted to interlock with the marginal'prongs in advancing the strip material to the coiling means, and means for severing a single convolution so as to present a lock washer having marginal prongs.

2. In a machine for forming lock Washers, means for coiling a strip of material having marginal prongs, intermittently operable means for feeding a predetermined length of the material to the coiling means, said feeding means designed to interlockingly engage the marginal prongs of the strip material, means for severing a single convolution of the formed coil, and means for straightening the helicoidal form of the severed convolution,

thereby presenting a flat type washer.

3. In a machine of the class described for forming'lock washers, a coiling device including a helicoidal way for receiving strip material formed with marginal prongsand for forming said material into a coil having more than one convolution, means for advancing a length of strip material to the coiling means which is equal to the length of stock Although the complete convolution, a. sheari g member adapted to sever one cqmplete'convolution from a coil formed within thehelicoidal way, andha second shearing member associated With the helicoidal way in a position between adjacent portions of thegstrip convolution's' formed therein, said second shearing member oo-operatinglwith' the first mentioned shearing member to effectthe severing 'ofa com plete' convolution. i 5. A maehine "for L fOl'lIlll'lg lock -washers from a contir'iuous;strip of serrated material including a frame, a feedingmechanism Boarried by the frame including'a reclprocable member having rack teeth formed along the lower edge thereof for engaging with the serrations of the stripmaterial, a strip coiling mechanism provided with a helicoidal way for receiving said strip material, means for disengaging the teeth of the reciproc'able member upon the completion of the forward stroke thereof and for actuating the engage ment thereof upon the completion of the rearward stroke, and means for severing a convolution of the strip material formed by the coiling means, the operation of said severing means being in timed relation with the actuation of the reciprocable feeding member.

6. In a machine for forming lock washers from strip material having marginal prongs, 'a materlal COlllIlg device, reclprocatory means for feeding material to the coiling means, a material guiding means slidable transversely of the material in accordance with the actuation of the feeding means, a reciprocatory mandrel constructed and arranged to cooperate with the coiling device, a reciprocatory pilot member adapted for insertion between adjacent prongs of the strip when said strip is positioned within thecoiling means, a pair of cooperative cutting members for severing a convolution of the strip material formed by the coiling device, means its for flattening a severed convolution, and a clamping device for securing the convolutionin proper position durlng the severing and flattening operation.

7. In a machme for forming lock washers, means for colling strip material, means for feeding strip materlal to said coiling means, and means for severing a convolution of the coil formed within the coiling means,

said means including a shearing element movable axially with respect to the coil, and an-, other 7 cooperative shearing element positioned between adjacent convolutions of the coil formed within the coiling means.

8. In a machine for forming a lock washi er, a coiling means including a helicoidal way for receiving strip material having spaced marginal prongs, a mandrel centrally positioned with respect to said helicoidal way, a pilot cooperating with said mandrel and in sertable between adjacent prongs of the strip material when said strip is positioned within lit vthe coiling 'means, and means for severing a formed convolution.

' 9. Ina machine for forming lockwashers, a'coiling means including a helicoidal Way for 5 receiving strip material, a reciprocatory mandrel movable axiall with respect to said helifcoidal way, means or severing a formed convolution, means for frictionally engaging said convolution during the severing thereof,

and means for controlling the movement of said coil engaging means in timed relation with respect to the position of the mandrel.

. In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

CARL o. OLSON. 

